WHEN three people participate in a robbery during which somebody is hit so hard he lies in a coma and has the rest of his life blighted, surely the law can do better than "None of the people brought to court was charged with attacking Mr Colegate because it could not be proved who struck the single blow to his head" ('Attacked driver gives cash to ward', August 10).

There are legal charges involved in being an accessory. Were these explored?

I often wonder when reading accounts where only one person is in court out of two or more perpetrators, why there aren't additional charges of, for example, conspiracy to rob. And why isn't refusal to name accomplices treated as a further offence, or at least mentioned as a factor leading to a heavier sentence than would have otherwise been passed? It would be interesting to have a reply from the CPS, or observations from solicitors.

Michael Cadoux,

Church Street,

Bubwith, Selby.

Updated: 11:32 Monday, August 16, 2004